What Are the Different Types of Electric Vehicles?

time2022/09/30

The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is coming. As electric vehicles become more popular on Australian roads, it's worth knowing what types of electric vehicles are available, and the technology they use.

Types of Electric Vehicles
The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is coming. As electric vehicles become more popular on Australian roads, it's worth knowing what types of electric vehicles are available, and the technology they use.


Electric vehicles, such as electric vehicles, use one or more electric motors powered by a battery pack for acceleration and drive. Depending on the type of EV, the electric motor can assist a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) or fully power the car.

What are the different types of new energy electric vehicles?

When we talk about electric vehicles, we usually mean three main types of electric vehicles: Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV), and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV).

What is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV)?

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) combine a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) with an electric motor and battery pack to reduce fuel consumption.

HEVs do this by using the electric motor to drive the car in situations where the ICE is particularly inefficient, such as when accelerating from a stop. Hybrids can also support ICE units when more efficient, such as cruising at highway speeds.

Hybrid cars are most similar to regular internal combustion engine cars because owners can only fill them up with conventional fuel (usually gasoline).

HEV technology automatically charges the battery through so-called "regenerative braking" and activates the electric motor system when conditions are right, meaning the driver doesn't have to monitor charging or plug the car into an electrical outlet.

What is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)?

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) combines an ICE with an electric motor and battery pack, similar to a hybrid vehicle, but with distinct differences.

PHEVs typically have larger battery packs and more powerful electric motors than hybrids because the electric system does a lot of the heavy lifting while driving. This means that the PHEV can be driven in pure electric mode, completely shutting down the ICE.

Driving a plug-in hybrid is similar to driving a hybrid in that the car automatically charges the battery and switches between the internal combustion engine and electric power depending on the situation. However, drivers can choose to refuel and power the PHEV.

The PHEV can run on gasoline only if all the battery power is used up, or charge the battery alone if all the fuel is used up.

What is a pure new energy electric vehicle (BEV)?

A battery electric vehicle (BEV) is considered an "all-electric" or "all-electric" vehicle. The BEV is powered entirely by electricity, with its electric motor drawing current from the onboard battery pack. BEV does not have any form of ICE.

Given that BEVs rely solely on electricity, their battery capacity and kilowatt-hour (kWh) output tend to be significantly larger than comparable hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. This additional battery technology typically results in BEVs costing more than other types of EVs.

BEVs need to be charged to drive. This can be done with a home charger or fast charging station, or with regenerative braking to recover energy.

What about mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)?

Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are two other electric vehicles also available in Australia.

Mild hybrid electric vehicles use a 48-volt starter motor, called an integrated starter-generator (ISG), to supplement the ICE. Debate remains about whether MHEVs can be considered "true EVs," as the ISG can only help the ICE, but not accelerate the vehicle on its own.

Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are similar to BEVs in that they use only electricity to drive, but the way they store energy is very different.

Unlike BEVs, which store electrical energy drawn from a charger, FCEVs generate their own electrical charge through a chemical reaction that typically involves hydrogen gas. This means that FCEVs can be filled with hydrogen and do not need to be "charged" from the grid.

The above briefly introduces the types of new energy electric vehicles. If you want to buy new energy vehicles, please contact us.

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